Hamburg is set to receive five new zero-emission buses as the municipal operator Hamburger Hochbahn has ordered the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. These buses are equipped with a 70 kW hydrogen fuel cell and will hit the streets as early as the second quarter of 2024.
The growing demand for hydrogen as an alternative fuel has led to an increase in orders from carriers for hydrogen-powered buses. The benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles include zero-emissions and an extremely low noise level. Hamburg is just one of the many cities opting to modernize their fleets with hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen bus carries up to 70 passengers and has an enclosed driver’s cab and a conventional 2-2-2 door layout. Solaris, a bus and coach manufacturer, has been developing hydrogen technology since 2014 and already has experience deploying hydrogen-powered buses in Hamburg.
“Fuel cell technology remains an important strategic option for Hochbahn. With the five vehicles now on order, we will be able to use serial production-ready hydrogen buses in everyday operations for the first time. We are very pleased that we can cooperate with our partner Solaris in this project,” says Henrik Falk, CEO Hamburger Hochbahn AG.
The Urbino 12 hydrogen bus is part of Solaris’s zero-emission range, which also includes electric buses and trolleybuses. In September 2022, Solaris unveiled the articulated version of its hydrogen bus, the Urbino 18 hydrogen vehicle, to expand its hydrogen offering.
“We believe that modern public transport plays a key role in the sustainable development of towns and cities. We are proud to be able to exert a real impact in this regard by delivering our zero-emission buses,” says Javier Irriarte, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.
As cities around the world seek to reduce their carbon footprint, the adoption of hydrogen-powered buses is expected to continue to grow, with more and more cities following Hamburg’s lead.
